Castillo parents suggest heinous crime

I’m asking our lawmakers, maybe include hazing as a heinous crime already. They just continue to disregard it

With a new case of hazing circulating among headlines, parents of slain University of Santo Tomas (UST) law student Horacio “Atio” Castillio III yesterday urged lawmakers to make hazing a heinous crime.

In 2017, Atio allegedly underwent fatal hazing rites of the members of the UST Aegis Juris fraternity. He was declared dead upon arrival at the Chinese General Hospital.

“I’m asking our lawmakers, maybe include hazing as a heinous crime already. They just continue to disregard it. Maybe we need to make it a heinous crime. Maybe it will deter them,” said Carmina Castillo, Horacio’s mother.

On the other hand, Horacio Castillo Jr., Castillo’s father, mentioned that heinous crime convicts should be ruled out from being granted freedom through Good Conduct Time Allowance Law.

“The families are pitiful. They have suffered much to get justice for the victims, later to find that the terms of the assailants can be shortened,” he said.

Ten members of UST Aegis Juris fraternity are currently detained at the Manila City Jail and have already been charged for violating the anti-hazing law.

Meanwhile, Castillo’s parents, extended their sympathies to the family of Darwin Dormitorio, who according to autopsy died to blunt force trauma in his barracks in Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City on 17 September.